Work support



W. V. NEAL 'WORK SUPPORT July 3,1923;

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1920 J y f July 3, 1523.

W. V. NEAL WORK SUPPORT Filed June 9 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 3, 1923.

"" i log WALTER V. NEAL, OF 1VIALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

WORK SUPPORT.

Application filed. June 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VALTER V. NEAL, a citizen of the United States, residin at Malden, in the county of Middlesex and tate of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Work Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to work supports and is illustrated as embodied in a last support comprising a thrust element adapted to apply and receive pressure in a direct line even though the parts by or through which thrust is transmitted may be inclined to one another. It is an object of the inventionto construct a thrust element comprising a plurality of members adapted to be placed either in the line of thrust. or at an inclination thereto, and to provide in connection with said members means by which the thrust is transmitted in a direct line vwithout tendency to alter the inclination of such members to the line of thrust.

The work support of the present invention is particularly useful in slugging high heel shoes mounted upon last-s. The operation of slugging heels consists in driving headless fastenings through the toplift of the heel from the tread surface thereof for purposes of ornamentation, more securely to aflix the toplift to the heelbody, and to give increased wear to the heel.

In the manufacture of a large proportion of shoes, for example, shoes made according to the Goodyear welt process, the last is retained in the shoe up to a point in the manufacturing process later than the heel slugging operation, and the last with the shoe on it is then held, bottom upward, by a last pin entering its socket, the last pin being supported by a work support or jack which is part of the slugging machine. The tread surface of the heel is pressed upward by the jack against an overhanging guide plate or abutment through which an awl and a slug driver operate, the awl being used to form holes in the heel into which the slugs are driven, and the driver to set the slugs. By the action of the awl and driver, a line of slugs is inserted in the heel near the edge of the top lift, around the heel or along as great an extent of the sides and back of the top lift as may be desired, the shoe meanwhile being rotated upon the last pin to bring successive points into posi- 1920. Serial No. 387,589.

tion for receiving slugs. In this operation the last pin 1s a thrust -transmitting member,

transmitting the pressure of the work sup-' port and receiving and withstanding the force applied by the awl and driver.

It has been diiiicult heretofore satisfactorily to drive slugs into certain types of heel on account of the fact that the tread surface of a heel, often is not perpendicular I parts of the peripheral portion of the toplift of the heel into the driving position, and that there is a tendency for high heels to kick out, as it is called, from the pressure plate due to the inclination of the last pin to the thrust of the awl and driver when the heel is placed with its tread surface squarely against the pressureplate, 7

Owing to the fact that rotation of the last about an inclined last pin changes the inclination of the tread surface, it'has become the practice so to arrange any specific last pin that it will hold the heel opproximately in a mean position, wherein its tread face is not exactly parallel to the press plate The difliculty in- I The difliculty reat either limit of the rotational movement.

The reason for so doing is that, although it is possible to place any last so that the top lift is square with the press plate when driving slugs at one side, yet the rotation of the last brings the tread face more an'd'more out of parallel with the press plate, whereby, according as the limit of stroke of the driver is fixed, the slugs may be driven either too deep or not deep enough in different parts of the heel, and not uniformly.' If the driver is set to advance exactly to the surface of the pressure plate and the jack adjusted to bring the heel tread surface parallel to the face of the plate when oneside of the heel ispresentedto receive slugs, the slugs will be driven flush with the tread surface at that side, but will project more or less at all other parts of the tread surface. The projecting ends of slugs are harmful in the finishing step of bui'iing the tread surface because they injure the butting rolls.

The highest heels of all, for example full Louis heels, have their tread surfaces at so great an inclination to their heelv seat surfaces that prior to the present invention it was quite impractical to slug them all around while on the last, and shoemakers have been impelled on this account to limit the slugs in such heels to three points, namely, the breast corners and the back, thus sacrificing the benefits due to a continuous row of slugs.

By the present invention I have produced a last pin which may be applied to a heel slugging machine, and to other shoemaking machines, and is capable of supporting shoes with heels of all heights and tread inclinations, in a manner enabling them to be slugged all around and uniformly and with elimination of danger of the heels kicking out. By the same invention I have produced a thrust transmission element useful for a variety of purposes, the illustrated machine having means for transmitting thrust in a direct line through members which may be more or less inclined to one another and which are arranged for rolling contact in a manner to facilitate self-adjustment thereof.

Referring now to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a last pin embodying the invention showing the parts of the complete combination in alinement with one another.

Figure 2 is a similarview showing the last pin proper of the combination at an inclination to the supporting bar.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. l.

Figure 4; is a horizontal section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views illustrating modified embodiments of the invention.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention as applied to the slugging of a high heel.

In these drawings (a designates a base having a stud I), which is adapted to be set into a socket in the jack post of a fastening inserting machine, or other machine used in carrying out operations on a shoe in which the last is retained, such stud typifying any kind of attachingmeans by which the base may be connected to the jack post. The base is preferably circular, as also is the stud or equivalent attaching means, and the latter is preferably eccentric to the base and designed to permit the base to be rotated, whereby it may be shifted laterally in position. A post 0 is supported by the base (a and is provided with a bottom flange (Z which occupies a cavity e in the upper side of the base and is retained therein by an overhanging annular washer or guard f secured to the base. Flange (Z is smaller than the cavity 6, and the central hole of the annular guard f is larger than the post 0 by approximately the same amount, whereby shifting of the post to different parts of the base is permitted.

The post 0 has a head 9 which, in the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a convex or crowned upper surface, on which the last pin /'z is supported. Said last pin has an enlarged bottom 71 furnished with a plane un der surface j and with a. flange is which surrounds the head and prevents the last pin slipping off. A washer Z is secured to the flange is beneath the head for the purpose mainly of providing an abutment for a spring m, which is confined between it and the under side of the head, said washer also preventing accidental separation of the pin from the head. The inner circumference of the washer or disk Z is enough larger than the post to permit the full extent of tilting for which the last pin is designed.

Owing to the crowning of the head 9 and the plane formation of the bottom surface j, tangent contact only exists between the post and pin, the latter being adapted to tilt in all directions and in tilting to roll on the head, whereby the point of contact is shifted toward the circumference of these surfaces in accordance with the degree of tilting. The radius of curvature of the convex surface is such that whatever may be the direction and degree of tilting, the point of contact is always vertically beneath that part of the last pin which applies and sustains the thrust. In the usual heel slugging machine the post is mounted vertically and the direction in which force is applied is vertical, wherefrom it follows that this contact point should be vertically below the fastenings or in the line of drive when the fastenings are inserted, and this is substantially the condition which exists under all circumstances in the use of the illustraed embodiments of the invention. The spring m tends to hold the pin in line with the post, opposing readily yielding resistance to inclination of the pin and returning it to the position of alinement when tilting forces are removed.

The shifting of the contact point above described is illustrated by acomparison of F iqures 1 and 2, sufliciently accurate results being obtainable when the convex surface of the head is made as the polar segment of a sphere having its axis in the axis of the post.

The invention is not limited to the form of Figs. 1 and 2 in which the upper surface of the head is convex and the under surface of the pin bottom is plane, for similar results may be secured by a reversal of this arrangement, as shown in Figure 6, or by making both tangent surfaces convex,

or by interposing a double convex body 71. between plane surfaces on the post and pin, as shown in Figure 6, or by making one of the tangent surfaces convex and the complemental surface concave. In either of the modifications described the degree" of curvature of the curved surface or' surfaces can is may be provided to risefro-m the post and surround the bottom ofthe pin, 'as is indicated in Figure 5. The form of pin shown in Figure 1 has an advantage over sides of the enlarged bottom parti makes it impossible for the lining of a shoe to become pinched and cut between the last pin and the last carrying an unfinished shoe placed upon such pin. I i I Reference to Figure 7 shows diagrammati-- mits and supports the thrusts of the slugging machine when operating on high heels. Here 0 represents a Louis heel attached to a shoe which is o'na last 39. r-represents the 'thimble of the last which receives the pin it pinbears. The position shown is that taken when slugs are being driven on one side of the heel near the breast. Y. Although the positioning of the heel with its top lift horiyet the contact point between the pin and the post and the bearing point of the pin on the last, are in linewith thedirection of thrust. As the last is rotated tobring different points on the heel into position for receivingslugs, the pin is tilted in different directions and to different degrees, until in the completely reversed position] from that shown, the direction and degree of tilting of the pin are oppositeand equal to those shown. In all these conditions, intermediate as well as extreme, the pin is supported at a point in the direct line of thrust.

Although the supporting point of the pin,

shifts to different, parts of the post, this does not changethe direction of thrust or create a hinge knuckle at one side, of the direction of thrust because the post and last .pin are each rigid and the post has a wide and firmbase. Thus the operative can manipulate the work with ease, since the operation of the machineproduces no'tend ency to push the work out of lts correct position.

By reason of the capacity for lateral move-' ment of the last pin it given by the basea being rotatable about an eccentricaxis, and

the post 0 being displaceable laterally on the base, it-is possible to shift the last pin h bodily in any direction by the amount needed to bring any point of the top lift of a heel of any style into line with the driver of a slug ing machine so that the top' liftmay e be ma' e horizontal when it'is in placeftorecelve a slug in any part thereof; and'by reasonof the'fact -that the supporting tangent point between the post and last pin 72) is'tdi- 're'ctly under the thrust point of the pin, there is no tendency ofthef drivingiinpact -;or of,

the supporting thrust to tilt the; pin, the I initial tilting of the pin creating no tendency of the'heel to kick out. When the slugging machine is in operation, the heel-is held solid- 1y between the jack and the pressure plate with its tr'eadface set squarely against the under surface of-"the pressure plate; Thus I by reason of thisv invention itismade possi other forms, however, because the flarlng ble to slug all around the. periphery of heels and it is rendered unnecessary tochange the last pin in the machine in getting 'iready -to slug heels of differentstyles. In; a broad sense the work support here I described is a thrust transmitting element. comprising, two principal members (enically the manner in which the last pin transdirections with a'relative convexity of'cur vature- Such thaterocking of one ipartnponl, the other, with" a rolling contact, is "permitted. With such rocking the tangent point and upon the bottom of whichthe end of the shifts equally in the same direction with theshiftingof the} line of -thrust ofthe machine. Such an element may be used in In this specification-the term spherical?, i a and terms of like import used-to; describe I the characterf of curvature .of the heady,

or of thebo-ttomofthe last pin h, or"'other nserted piece, do not mean necessarily that I the surfaces thus described are segmentsof, perfect spheres, but they are intendedtoinelude spheroidal and other'surfa c'es' which have the characteristiczof, smooth curvature onjall radiating lines fromthe highest point of thesurface.

r Theterm radius of curvature, herein used appliesto all forms of'tangentsurface which may be used in this combination, for a plane surface-is the'liiniting forinj of a spherical surface and' rnay be cQnsidered as a spherical surface of infiniteradiusy Thus, the plane surface which contacts with a spherically curved surface infeither of'the embodiments of the; invention hereinbefore described has a greater-radius of c-urvature than the contacting curved surface. I

various other machines used in thejmakingm of shoes, asf'well as in slugging machines, zontal tilts the pin to a considerable angle,

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A: machine element for sustaining or applying thrust comprising two members adapted tobe placed with respect to one another either in a given alinement or at an inclination to such alinement inany direction and in various degrees; said members being in engagement with one another on tangent contact surfaces the degree of relativecurvature being such that the line of thrust sustained by said element passes through the point of tangency of said surfaces at any inclination of the members, and means tending to move said members into alinement when the thrust is removed.

2. A machine element for sustaining and applying thrust comprising two members adapted to be placed with respect to one another-either in a given alinement or at an inclination to such alinement in various degrees; said members having rolling contactwith one anotheron tangent contact surfaces, the degree of relative curvature being such that the line of a thrust sustained by said element passes through the point of tangency of said surfaces in any inclination of the members. I

3.1na machine of the class described the combination of a supporting member and a thrust-receiving member bearlng against the supporting member, one of said members having a plane surface and the other having a convexsurface making tangent contact with said plane surface and curved in all directions on a radius such that rocking-of one member relatively to the other shifts the tangent point equally with the point of pressure application of the thrust-receiving member.

4. A support, and athrustreceiving 111G111.

ber adapted to be placedat inclinations in different directions and to different degrees with respect to said support, said support and member having contact surfaces one of which diverges from the other in all directions radially from the contact'point, whereby with rocking of one member relatively to the other, the tangent point shifts in the same direction as that in which the rocking takes place.

5. A last supportcomprising a post and a pin having a bottom surface which bears against a supportingsurface on the post, one of said'surfaces having a spherical curvature the axis of which substantially coincides with the axis of the pin when the latter is alined with the post, and the degree or rate of curvature of'which has a value to cause shifting of the point of tangency between the surfaces in the same direction and to substantially the same extent that the pressure sustaining point of the pin is displaced by tilting of the' pin, whereby thrust istransmitted through the said combination always in the same direction and substantially in. a direct line however the pin may be inclined. 7

6. A last support comprising a base, a post mounted on said base with provision forlateral shifting movement, means preventing separation of the post from the base, a last pin having a bottom surface bearing against and diverging from the ad-- movement with respect thereto, one of said surfaces being convex with a substantially.

spherical curvature, and means preventing displacement of the pin from the post, said means comprising a flange projecting from one of the members constituted by the pin and post and embracing'the adjacent end of the other of said members.

8. A work support comprising a post and a last pin mounted upon said post, there being between said post and last pin contacting surfaces one of which is spherically curved and the other of which has a longer radius of curvature than said spherically curved surface; the radii of curvature of said surfaces being so proportioned that tilting of the last pin causes shifting of the point of tangency between the surfaces'in the same direction and to substantially the same extent as the relative displacement'of the line of thrust which produces that tilting.

9. A last support comprising a last pin having a plane bottom surface, and a support for said last pin having a crowned substantially spherical surface making tangent contact with said plane bottom surface and being so curved that the point of tan-- gency is brought in the line of thrust appliedlby or upon the last pin when thelatter is in alinement with or in a position of inclination to the direction in which thrust and supporting pressure is applied.

10. A last support comprising a last pin having a plane bottom surface, and a support for said last pin having a crowned sub stantially spherical surface making tangent contact with said. plane bottom surface and being so curved that the point of tangency is brought in the line of thrust applied by or upon the last pin when the latter is in alinement'with or in a position of inclination to the direction in which thrusting and sup-;

base pivotally with provision for lateral rotation about an eccentric axis, a post sup ported upon said base with provision for lateral movement relatively thereto, and a last pin supported upon said post, the post having a crowned top surface and the last pin a plane bottom surface permitting rock- 1 mg movement in all directions and corresponding shifting of the contact point between the surfaces.

12. A last support for a shoe machine comprising a base, means for holding said base pivotally with provision for lateral rotation about an eccentric axis, a post supported upon said base with provision for lateral movement relatively thereto, and a last pin supported upon said post, the post having a crowned top surface and the last pin a plane bottom surface permitting rocking movement in all directions and corresponding shifting of the contact point be tween the surfaces, said post being under cut, and the last pin having an embracing flange with an internal abutment, and a spring confined between said abutment and the undercut head and tending to hold the pin in an upright position.

13. A work support comprising a last pin and a supporting member therefor, surfaces of the last pinv and the supporting member having rolling contact to permit rocking movement of the last pin on the supporting member in any direction.

- 14. A work support comprising a last pin and'a supporting member therefor, the last pin and the supporting member being formed with contacting surfaces shaped'to any direction, and a spring tending to return the last pin to a vertical position.

15. A work support comprising a last permit rocking movement of the last pin in pin, .asupporting' member therefor, said' last pin being arranged to have rolling contact with the supportingmember to permit rocking movement in any direction, and means to limit saidrocking movement.

16. A work support comprising, a last pin and a'supporting member therefor, said last pin being mounted to have rolling contact with the supporting member to permit rocking movement of the last pin, and means to preventthe escape of the last pin from the supporting member.

17. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a jack post, a supporting member carried by said jack postand mounted for movement transversely there- I I of, and a last pin carried by said supporting member and having rolling contact therewith.

18. A work support comprising a last pin and a supporting-member therefor, contact- 7 ingsurfaces ofthe last pin and the supporting member being formedto permitlrolling contact between the last pin and the supporting member. I j

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. v

' WALTER V. NEAL. 

